Radha Krishna - Chapter 10: Dhruva Mahârâja's Fight with the Yakshas

(1) Maitreya said: 'Dhruva ['the immovable one'] married Bhrami [meaning 'turning around'] the daughter of Prajâpati S'is'umâra ['the dolphin', 'the galaxy'] and named her sons Kalpa ['epoch'] and Vatsara ['tropical year']. (2) With another wife called Ilâ ['the comfort'], a daughter of Vâyu [the demigod of the air], the powerful one begot a son called Utkala ['the one who carries the load'] and a jewel of a girl. (3) Uttama ['the one of excel'] however, Dhruva's brother who didn't marry, was during a hunt in the Himalaya range killed by a very powerful Yaksha [an evil spirit]. He was [soon] followed by his mother [Suruci]. (4) Dhruva hearing about the death of his brother, filled with lamentation angered swore revenge and got on his victorious chariot to leave for the city of the Yakshas.

(5) Heading in the northern direction the king saw in a valley of the Himalayas that was inhabited by followers of Lord S'iva, a city full of ghostly people. (6) There oh ruler, the mighty-armed one blew his conch shell that resounded fearfully in the sky in all directions so that the wives of the Yakshas became most afraid. (7) Thereupon the very powerful soldiers of Kuvera appeared out of their resentment against the sound of the conch shell and attacked him with all kinds of weapons. (8) He, the hero and powerful bowman with all of them attacking, could fight many adversaries simultaneously and killed them one after the other, shooting three arrows at a time. (9) Because these arrows were aimed at their heads, they, being convinced of the fact that they all without fail surely would be defeated, lauded his action. (10) Not accepting that they would be trampled like serpents under his feet, they tried to retaliate, striking back shooting twice as much arrows at the same time. (11-12) Eager to counter his actions and his charioteer they, a 130.000 men strong, very angry showered thereupon all kinds of feathered arrows, bludgeons, swords, tridents, pointed lances, spears and fire weapons. (13) The master of war vanished completely from sight behind that constant shower of weapons, just like a mountain that is covered by a downpour.

(14) In the sky a tumult of disappointment resounded from the perfected ones [the Siddhas] who, witnessing the fight, assumed that this grandson of Manu who was setting like the sun in the ocean of Yakshas, had been killed. (15) The Yakshas exclaimed that the victory was theirs, but then his chariot reappeared from the fighting lot like the sun emerges from the mist. (16) His twanging divine bow created the lamentation of his enemies, scattering the different weapons with his arrows just like the wind scatters an array of clouds. (17) The sharp arrows released from his bow pierced the shields and entered the bodies of the demons, just like thunderbolts hitting the mountains. (18-19) The battlefield that bewilders the mind of a hero, began to glimmer from the by the arrows severed heads complete with garlands and turbans beautiful with earrings and helmets, and the cut off thighs and arms that with beautiful bracelets and armlets shone like golden palm trees. (20) The remaining soldiers, the most of whom had wounded limbs because of the arrows of the greatest of all warriors, fled in all directions like elephants defeated by a lion.

(21) At that time seeing that none of the enemy soldiers were left standing, the best of all men wanted to see their city, but he didn't enter it for one can't be sure of the plans of a mystical enemy. (22) When the one with the finest chariot, apprehensive about a counterattack of his enemies, was talking to his charioteer, a loud sound like that of the ocean was heard that could be recognized as produced by the wind of a dust storm rising from all directions. (23) In a moment the sky was covered by a mass of dense clouds that everywhere glittered with lightening accompanied by a thunder that threatened on all sides. (24) Oh faultless one, there was an inundation of blood, mucus, pus, stool, urine, marrow and trunks of bodies falling from the sky in front of him. (25) Then from the sky a downpour from everywhere could be observed of a mountain of clubs, bludgeons, swords, maces together with a hail of big stones. (26) Serpents breathing like thunder vomited fire with angry eyes and groups of mad elephants, lions and tigers were encroaching. (27) As if the last of days had arrived the sea flooded the earth in all directions with fierce rolling waves, producing a tremendous sound.

(28) These kinds of phenomena are created by heinous demons who with demoniac illusions try to frighten the less intelligent ones. (29) The great sages cognizant of the highly dangerous mystic power that by the demons was directed against Dhruva, then united to support him and help him out. (30) They said: 'Oh son of Uttânapâda, may the Supreme Lord carrying the bow called S'ârnga, be the Godhead that kills all the enemies of the surrendered souls in order to remove their distress. For it is the chanting and hearing of His holy name that forthwith helps men fully to overcome insurmountable death o Dhruva.'